APPLE ORCHARDS. 59 



Groton, Mass. ; known in Middlesex county by the name of the Riv- 

 er apple. Before these are all used, the New York Fi|)pin comes 

 into use, a valuable fruit in November and December. The Mother 

 apple, excellent for family use, large, red, flesh tender and melting, 

 — November to January. 



For early winter use nothing supersedes the Hubbardston None- 

 such, but it loses its flavor by long keeping; the Baldwin and Rox- 

 bury Russett, are too well known to be mentioned ; the latter if 

 proper care be taken will keep till June. There appears to be no 

 variety to fill the space between the Russett and Early Harvest, 

 except the Runnels. This variety originated in Andover, Essex 

 county ; the best recommendation it has, however, is that it is fit 

 for use when others are not to be found, and serves to take the 

 same place in the apple department, as the Madeline, in the cata- 

 logue of pears, very good when others are not to be had. 



Soil and Location. — The location for fruit trees as far north 

 as Worcester County, should have a southern aspect ; if an orchard 

 be transplanted upon the summit or north side of a hill, the " bleak 

 winds " from the north and north-west cause the trees to have a 

 bend in the opposite direction, so that it is impossible to train 

 an orchard into such form, as to assume anything like a beautiful 

 appearance ; aside irom this, it is noticed that orchards in such lo- 

 cations are by no means prolific, and the fruit is of poor quality 

 not unlike the form of the tree, rudely shaped and ill-balanced. 



A sandy soil has sometimes been looked upon as favorable for 

 the growth of fruit trees ; the easy manner in which these soils are 

 cultivated, and the rapidity with which some of the earlier crops 

 come to maturity, have induced people to look upon this kind of 

 soil with favor ; but reason as well as observation should teach 

 every practical farmer that such soils are among the very worst for 

 this purpose ; for under the hot sun of July and August, the moisture 

 is absorbed and the roots robbed of one of the elements necessary 

 for growth and sustenance ; hence, the tree soon begins to assume 

 a sickly appearance, withers, droops, and finally dies, producing 

 but little fruit while it lived,' and that of poor quality ; no ex- 

 perienced farmer would expect to see a fine grass field on soil of this 

 class. Hence, a sufficient reason why they should not be chosen 

 for the cultivation of orchards. A gravelly loam is much better, 

 especially so if the loam has the preponderance ; if the gravel is in 

 excess, and this is a matter for the cultivator himself to decide, it 

 will be for his interest to set this aside with the other. 



